Receptacle filling device



Dec. 19, 1950 G; w. SMITH RECEPTACLE FILLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1949 Fig.

Fig. 2.

||||||||| 1...: v s a sr .n llll lllllllllllllllll I Inventor Glen W. Smith Dec. 19, 1950 G. w. SMITH RECEPTACLE FILLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1949 Inventor A Attorneys Glen W. Smith Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I 2,534,997 7 3 nEoEr'rAoLn riLLiNGnnvIoE Glen W. Smith, Grinnell, Iowa 1;

ApplicationJune s, 194.9, Serial No. 97,340

This invention relates to receptacle filling machines Of the type disclosed in the U. S. patent to G. E. Strandt et al., No. 1,716,869, June 11, 1929, and has more particular reference to an improved receptacle filling device for such machines which is readily adaptable for use in filling both rigid and non-rigid containers.

Conventional filling devices for glass bottles or like rigid containers include a yieldable valved fluid discharge and air vent nozzle upwardly against which the container is forced to open the valves and allow air to escape from'the container and liquid to flow from a reservoir into the container, the nozzle having a resilient container sealing ring which prevents the liquid from overflowing from the container after the' latter is filled, so that the quantity of liquid delivered to the container need not be measured. These conventional devices cannot be used for filling paper or like containers which are not sufficiently rigid to force the nozzle upwardly for opening the valves. If mechanical means were provided to raise the nozzle and open the valves, the con- .tainer would not be sealed, and the liquid would -An example of the latter type of machine isdisclosed in the U. S. Patent to J. M. Hothersall et al., No. 2,222,617, Nov. 26, 1940. This naturally required additional floor space for the other or latter type of machine and involved a considerable extra expense in purchasing the same, as Well as resulting in part-time operation of both types of machines.

The primary object of the present invention is to modify the filling devices of a conventional bottle or rigid container filling machine so that the latter may be readily converted for use in filling both rigid and non-rigid containers, thereby eliminating the need for and expense of purchasing the other type of machine and the provision of extra floor space therefor, as well as permitting full-time operation of the machine by reason of the fact that the filling devices thereof r have been adapted for use in filling both types of containers.

A more specific object is to modify and improve the type of filling device disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,171,757, A. J. Lippold, Sept. 5, 1939, so as 7 Claims. (c1.'22e 1c2) rigid containers, the plane of section being'at a broken away.

to adapt such device for use in filling both rigid and non-rigid containers. I j

The exact nature of the present inventiomas well as other objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through the liquid reservoir and adjacent parts of a receptacle filling machine equipped with the present device, said device being conditioned for filling non-rigid containers and being shown partly in central vertical section and partly-in elevation with the valves thereof closed.

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to Figure .1, showing'the nozzle and associated parts partly raised to the position wherein the liquid flow control valve is closed and the air vent valve is open. Figure 3 is a similar view showing theparts fully raised with both valves open. Figure 4: is an enlargedview showing the device as in Figure 1, with parts omitted and parts Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal on the line 5.-5 of Figural. U Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational; View showing the container lifter and the adjacent portion of the nozzle raising device attached thereto. Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the nozzle raising device; 7 Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective "view of the section taken stop device, for opening the air vent valve, which is mounted'on the liquid reservoir.

Figure 9 is a view somewhat similar to Fi'gu're'B showing the device in use for filling bottles o'r right angle to that on which Figure 3 is taken.

Referring in detail to the drawings, A indicates the conventional liquid reservoir of a container filling machine, B indicates one of the present filling devices with which said reservoir is equipped, and C indicates the usual lifter means of which a container is raised to receive the nozzle of the filling device and to be filled with liquid from the reservoir, and by mean of which the filled container is lowered for being closed and delivered from the machine. The reservoir A is provided at the bottom wit a depending liquid dispensing or outlet tube 5,

, and a nozzle 6 is slidable on the lower portion of said tube and yieldingl pressed downwardly-by a helical compression spring I disposed on said tube and interposed between the bottom of the reservoir and an external flange 8 of the nozzle. A tubular standard 9 is fixed at its lower end to 3 the lower end of nozzle 6 and extends upwardly through the latter and the tube 5 into the lower portion of the reservoir, said standard having diametrically opposed longitudinal elongated slots ID in its upper portion. A rotatable valve sleeve ll, provided with diametrically opposed longitudinal elongated slots I2, is snugly frictionally and rotatably fitted on the upper portion of standard 9 and hasits; lower portion. freely slidable in the outlet tube 5. The valve sleeve l l forms a support for an open-top measuring cup l3 fixed on the upper end thereof, and downward move! ment of said valve sleeve onto standard, 9.is limited by stop members 14 fixed to said valve sleeve and engaged with the bottom of the; reservoir.

when the parts of the device arein their normal lowered position.

The nozzle 6 is provided at its lower'end with an internal seat l5 for a hollow conical valve head Iii. whiclris carried by thelower end, of. a tubular stem I! that extends throughthe stand,- ard,9 =and.measuring cup [.3 to apoint above the latter andthe maximum level, of liquid in the reservoir. The stem IT has alspool-shaped head l8.releasably engaged by the slotted intermediate arms IQ of a substantially E -shaped double sheetmetahspring 211- The stem I serves as an air, vent: conduit, and the valve head. lfi is providedat the lower endof itsbore with a seat 21 for anair controlvalvelZ. The valve 22 is car-- 1 riedby arod-like stem 23thatextendsthrough land above thestem I1 and has a spool-shaped head 24 releasably engagedby the slotted upper arm: 25 of the'spring 20. The lower arm 25 of spring 20. is-slottedto freely straddle the stem 3 l1: andrest upon the measuring cup 13., and. it may. be.-, provided with downturned lugs 21 engaged,- over the upper edge of said cup to releasably hold the. spring. 20in place. Stems 23 and I] and standard 9. are disposed in spaced 4:

concentric relation, and the cup I3 isnormally submerged below the level of liquid inthereservoinso-as-to be-filled with such liquida The upper portion or member of spring 20 is made weaker than the lower portion thereof for a. purpose which will later; be. madeapparent.

A. stopdevice 28: is: mounted. on thereservoir and; includes-a. clamp 29.se cured over the upper edge of said reservoir and having a rigid lateral arm 30 disposed above andin the path of the I headZ l-Of stem-23. Whenthe nozzle E'isiorced upwardly against theaction-of spring 1, theen- 'tirelassemblyof parts 9,- ll, l3, l5, H, 2B, 22

and; His raised'untilthe head 24-of stem 23 .en

This prevents further upward I? gagesv arm 30. movement of valve 22- and stem 23 so thatas 'the;resti of the-parts continue upward, thearm 25 -of-spring 20 isstopped and-fiexedtoplace the upper portion ormember of spring; 2.0.under increasing tension, at the same time unseating valve -22 to'allow air toescape from the-container, in

which the nozzleshasbeen inserted, upwardly through the tubular stem 11. When the tension of-the upper portion or member orspring 2.0ex-

ceeds the strength of the-lower-porti0n,or member thereof, the arms l9 of saidspringandparts l6 and H. are held against furtherupward movement, while-arm 25; is flexed to allow. further upstandard 9 into the container, The filled container is then lowered again for being closed and delivered from the machine, the cup I3 being submerged to receive a new charge of liquid and the valves being closed. The operation just described is that which takes place when filling a paper or non-rigid container R as shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, at which time the valve sleeve H is turned to close the slots l0 and I2, and a nozzle raising device D is carried by the lifterC which engages the nozzle 6 as soon as thelower end of the latter enters the top filler opening of the container. The device D may con sist of a rod bent to provide a horizontal loop 3| extendinglaterally from the upper ends of a pair of-spaced rigidly connected vertical legs 32 which extend' through ears of a receptacle positioning member 33 fixed on and disposed at one side of the-lifter-C, and which are engaged by set screws Mtosecure the device D in proper vertically adjusted position. The lower end of nozzle 6 is reducedtoprovide a shoulder 35, and the loop 3| receives this end of the nozzle and'engages said shoulder so as to raise said nozzle and prevent any pressure of the container against the latter as the filling operation takes place. When filling a glass bottleE or the like, the device D is removed from the lifter C, the usual resilient sealing ring .36 is placed on the'reduced lower end of nozzle 6, and the valve sleeve 1 i is turned toregister the slots l2 with the slots ill as shown in Figure 9. Thus, when the bottle israised, it engages the ring 3% in the usual way to force the nozzle upwardly. As it is not necessary to measure the quantity of liquid dispensedunder these conditions, the liquid is allowed to flow directly from the reservoir as usual, said liquid flowing into standard 9 through the registered slots i0 and-l2.

It willoi course be un eretcod that the reservoir will beprovided, as usual, with a plurality of the filling devices, as disclosed in the prior patents referred to above.

From, the foregoing description, the-construction, opera ion and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated'within the spirit andscope oi the inventionas claimed.

What is ciaimed as new is:

1.111 a receptacle filling device, the combinationwita a pair of valves one of which is tentrally apertured and provided. 'rvith a seat engagedby the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the-other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzleproviding a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a support forthe respective valve stems including a tubular standard Xed to andextending upwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the-lipper portion thereof, and a rotatable valve sleeve frictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup.

2. In a receptacle filling device, the combination with apair, of valves one of which i centrally apertured and provided with a seat engaged by the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzle providing a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a supportfor the respective, valve-stems including a tubular standard fixed to and extendingupwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the upper portion thereof, a rotatable valve sleeve frictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup, and spring members one reniovabiy engaging the measuring cup and the stem of the a rtured valve and the other removably engaging the stems of both valves, said spring members constituting the sole means or" mounting said stems from said support.

3. In a receptacle filling device, the combination with a pair of valves one of which is centrally apertured and provided with a seat engaged by the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzle providing a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a support for the respective valve stems including a tubular standard fixed to and extending upwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the upper portion thereof, a rotatable valve sleeve irictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup, and spring members one removably engaging the measuring cup and the stem of the apertured valve and the other removably engaging the stems of both valves, said spring member constituting the sole means of mounting said stems from said support, and a fixed stop member disposed above and engageable by the stem of said other valve for unseating the latter.

4. In a receptacle filling device, the combination with a pair of valves one of which is centrally apertured and provided with a seat engaged by the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzle providing a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a support for the respective valve stems including a tubular standard fixed to and extending upwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the upper portion thereof, a rotatable valve sleeve frictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup, spring members one removably engaging the measuring cup and the stem of the apertured valve and the other remcvably engaging the stems of both valves, said spring members constituting the sole means of mounting said stems from said support, and a fixed stop member disposed above and engageable by the stem of said other valve for unseating the latter, said one spring member being stronger than the other.

5. In a receptacle filling device, the combination with a pair of valves one of which is centrally apertured and provided with a seat engaged by the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzle providing a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a support for the respective valve stems including a tubular standard fixed to and extending upwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the upper portion thereof, a rotatable valve sleeve frictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup, spring members one removably engaging the measuring cup and the stem of the apertured valve and the other removably engaging the stems of both valves, said spring members constituting the sole means of mounting said stems from said support, a fixed stop member disposed above and engageable by the stem of said other valve for unseating the latter, said one spring member being stronger than the other, the lower end of said nozzle being reduced to provide a shoulder and to receive a removable container sealing ring for filling a rigid container when the valve sleeve is turned to uncover the openings of said standard, a receptacle lifter for raising a container into filling relation to said nozzle, and a raising device removably carried by said lifter and engageable with said shoulder to raise the nozzle for filling a non-rigid container when the valve sleeve is turned to cover the openings of said standard.

6. In a receptacle filling device, the combination with a pair of valves one of which is centrally apertured and provided with a seat engaged by the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzle providing a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a support for the respective valve stems including a tubular standard fixed to and extending upwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the upper portion thereof, a rotatable valve sleeve frictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup, spring members one removably engaging the measuring cup and the stem of the apertured valve and the other removably engaging the stems of both valves, said spring members constituting the sole means of mounting said stems from said support, a fixed stop member disposed above and engageable by the stem of said other valve for unseating the latter, said one spring member being strong than the other, the lower end of said nozzle being reduced to provide a shoulder and to receive a removable container sealing ring for filling a rigid container when the valve sleeve is turned to uncover the openings of said standard, a receptacle lifter for raising a container into filling relation to said nozzle, a raising device removably carried by said lifter and engageable with said shoulder to raise the nozzle for filling a nonrigid container when the valve sleeve is turned to cover the openings of said standard, and means to vertically adjust said raising device.

7. In a receptacle filling device, the combination with a pair of valves one of which is centrally apertured and provided with a seat engaged by the other, of stems for the respective valves one of which is housed within the other, a yieldable fluid discharge nozzle providing a seat for the apertured valve, a spring opposing the yielding of said nozzle, and a support for the respective valve stems including a tubular standard fixed to and extending upwardly through the nozzle and having fluid outlet openings in the upper portion thereof, a rotatable valve sleeve frictionally fitted on the upper portion of said standard and provided at its upper end with a measuring cup, and means to limit lowering of said valve sleeve.

GLEN W. SMITH.

No references cited. 

